<p>Hey all,
I got 2020 on the October SAT (first time taking the SAT). I want to apply for the top end UC's and Brown or Cornell, but I'm not sure if I got a high enough score. Should I retake it? Do I even stand a chance if I applied to an Ivy league?</p>
<p>You’re in the range for the UC’s. Assuming you have decent EC’s and GPA I’m sure you’ll do fine. You might get into Cornell. Unless you improve I wouldn’t apply to the top end ivies. A 2020 is a very good score, first, pat yourself on the back. Now if there’s one specific section where your score is lower, and you can do targeted practice, by all means take the SAT again. </p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>Top end UC’s and Ivy league schools will need a higher SAT. Practice on your weaker section and improve those, then retake. 2020 should be sufficient to get you into 2nd tier UC’s and maybe UC San Diego, but Berkeley and LA are far too competitive for 2020 more likely than not.</p>
<p>I’d say atleast 2100+ for top tier UC’s, and 2250+ for Ivy Leagues.</p>
<p>Not trying to pull the race card, but does being Mexican ease the competition a bit for me when I apply for colleges?</p>
<p>Now that you bring that up - definitely, LOL. Still, a higher SAT score will only help, especially at those selective colleges like Ivy’s and top tier UC’s.</p>
<p>You guys should look at the score ranges on CollegeBoard, seriously. Berkeley Middle 50% CR is around 650 Middle for Math is around 710 middle Writing is around 680 or 690. You’re about 30 points off from the middle, which is within the score fluctuations expected on the SAT. You’re also a Mexican (I don’t think UC’s use race in admission anymore, could be wrong), so if everything else checks out, we can conservatively assume that you will make it into Berkeley, and can give you a pretty good shot at UCLA and lower UC’s.</p>
<p>This is of course contingent upon you being a resident of California, which I think you are.</p>
<p>@Sillyup20</p>
<p>In short, yes. It will help you.
There is a reason they ask for your ethnicity. There is a reason URM is a hook.</p>
<p>That being said, URM is becoming less of a hook each year. There are just so many qualified URM applicants these days that it is hard to stand out. Will you get into an Ivy with a 2020 as a “mexican.” Probably not. But then again, most people won’t get into an Ivy. Will it help you? Certainly.</p>
<p>I’ve known of many people with scores between 2000 and 2100 who have gotten into Cornell and a few Brown. But yes, the higher ivies are out of reach with that score.</p>